Cai Guo-Qiang: An Arbitrary History

October 31, 2001–January 6, 2002

Musée d’Art Contemporain de Lyon, Lyon

Curated by Thierry Raspail

An Arbitrary History: River, 2001. Installation incorporating resin and bamboo riverbed, water, yak skin and wood boats, and existing works by the artist presented as components. Dimensions variable. Collection of the artist (riverbed and boats), and various private and public collections.

Installation view at the Musée d’art contemporain de Lyon, 2001. Photo by Blaise Adilon, courtesy Musée d’art contemporain de Lyon.

Mao
1997
Wood boat, paper lanterns, limestone dragons, electric lights, and Andy Warhol ‘s Mao (1972)
Installation dimensions variable
Private collection

Installation view at Louisiana Museum of Modern Art, Humlebaek, 1997.

Photo by Jens Frederiksen.

The Dragon Has Arrived!
1997
First realized at 47th Venice Biennale (1997)
Salvaged wood from a sunken boat, Chinese flags, electric fan, and lights
Installation dimensions variable
DESTE Foundation for Contemporary Art

Installation view at the 47th Venice Biennale, 1997.

Photo by Elio Montanari, courtesy Cai Studio.

Trap: Project for the 20th Century
1997
Wood model of PT-109 boat, rattan bird cage, live birds, string, and documents regarding unrealized projects for the Queens Museum of Art
Installation dimensions variable. Model length: 83.82 cm Cage: 71.12 x 68.58 cm
Private collection

Installation view at the Queens Museum of Art, New York, 1997.

Photo by Hiro Ihara, courtesy Cai Studio.

Acupuncture for Venice
1995
Plastic, decal, water, and acupuncture needles
184.15 x 490.22 x 0.5 cm Installation dimensions variable according to configuration
Private collection

Installation view at the Musée d’art contemporain de Lyon, 2001. 

Photo by Blaise Adilon, courtesy Musée d’art contemporain de Lyon.

Snake Bag–Multiculture
1995
Snakes, snakeskin, altered mirror, light bulb, balance scale, photograph, bag, and crane
162.6 x 81.3 cm

Installation view at the Musée d’art contemporain de Lyon, 2001. 

Photo by Blaise Adilon, courtesy Musée d’art contemporain de Lyon.

Moxacautery–For Africa
1995
Wooden sculpture, medicine, moxa, and statement of treatment
Dimensions variable
Sculptures: Approximately 2 m long each 33.02 x 199.39 x 27.94 cm

Installation view at the First Johannesburg Biennial, 1995.

Photo by Cai Guo-Qiang, courtesy Cai Studio.

Arms—Contradiction
1994
Lead, wood
Dimensions variable. Wood: approximately 360.7 x 4 cm. Lead: 152.4 x 99 x 6.3 cm

Installation view at Hiroshima City Museum of Contemporary Art, 1994.

Photo courtesy Cai Studio.

Wailing Wall—From the Engine of Four Hundred Cars (Documentation)
1992
Documentation images of Wailing Wall–From the Engine of Four Hundred Cars (1992), printed on cloth diapers, and hanging device
Approximately 100 x 120 x 120 cm overall

Installation view at the Musée d’art contemporain de Lyon, 2001.

Photo by Blaise Adilon, courtesy Musée d’art contemporain de Lyon.

The Age of Not Believing in God

1999
Wooden sculptures, arrows: bronze heads, bamboo and feather shaft
Installation dimensions variable
Sculptures: height: 80 to 130 cm ea. 
Museum Ludwig Köln

Installation view at S.M.A.K. Museum of Contemporary Art, Ghent, 2003. 

Photo courtesy Cai Studio.

An Arbitrary History: Roller Coaster, 2001. Roller coaster, printed fabric ceiling, and audio recording (Gustav Holst, “Jupiter, The Bringer or Jollity” from The Planets [1914–16]). Dimensions variable. Collection du Musée d’art contemporain de Lyon

Installation view at the Musée d’art contemporain de Lyon, 2001. Photo by Blaise Adilon, courtesy Musée d’art contemporain de Lyon.

The Eagle Has Arrived!2001. Boat, 30 oars, 30 spears, EU flag, and fan. 145 x 650 x 230 cm. Astrup Fearnley Museum of Modern Art

Installation view at Musée d’art contemporain de Lyon, 2001. Photo by Blaise Adilon, courtesy Musée d’art contemporain de Lyon